Meet Teaching Assistant Amber Poole
Today, 16th September, is National Teaching Assistants Day – a chance to acknowledge the invaluable contribution teaching assistants make to children’s education and lives.
We met with Amber Poole, a teaching assistant at Thomas Bennett Community College in Crawley, to discover what she loves and finds challenging about her role. Thomas Bennett is a school SLN works closely with, using Uni Connect funding to help raise awareness amongst students of higher education options.
What three things do you most love about being a teaching assistant Amber?
I love how varied the role is – no two days are ever the same! I also love seeing the huge progress students make, particularly those who might didn’t have confidence about making the step up to sixth form.
It’s also a real privilege to be someone who students feel comfortable talking to about both academic or pastoral issues. That aspect of the role is so rewarding as I can sometimes help open students’ eyes to future pathways they might not have previously considered as being ‘for them’.
What do you find most challenging about the role?
It’s frustrating when students can’t recognise their own ability and opt not to go to university when they’re capable of going and would really benefit. I always remind them that being at sixth form, studying at Level 3 and having the motivation to come every day is in itself a brilliant achievement.
What do you feel is the biggest misconception about teaching assistants?
People underestimate the work that teaching assistants and learning mentors do – both in terms of the complexity and volume of the work. I need to be able to be able to prioritise quickly and balance admin with student support work, although I always make sure that students in the most need are prioritised. There’s a lot of multi-tasking!
What do teaching assistants bring to the school environment that no-one else is able to?
I am someone approachable who students feel they can talk to. Students sometimes feel their questions are too silly to ask the head of sixth form or subject teachers but they feel able to approach me and that’s a real privilege.
What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a teaching assistant?
Students’ best interests must always be at the heart of everything they do. If getting children into further education is their passion, then go for it! It’s such a rewarding thing to do.